Pathfinder Game Night: Dawn of the Frogs (First Look)

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Paizo is offering a new way for first-time players to try out the Pathfinder Second Edition RPG with the release of a new box set entitled Pathfinder Game Night: Dawn of the Frogs. Unlike long running Adventure Paths which require multiple sessions to complete, Game Night boxes are designed as quick, self-contained experiences that introduce new players to the rules and world of Pathfinder without requiring a ton of prep or knowledge.

Dawn of the Frogs is the first installment in the new Game Night line giving players a chance to step into the eerie bogs of Golarion for a swamp-soaked mystery. It includes pre-generated characters, maps, pawns, dice and an adventure booklet, making it possible for new Pathfinder players to dive right into the game without any major set up.

So just what can new players expect from their first froggy foray into Pathfinder? Below, we hop into all the details.

What is “Pathfinder Game Night: Dawn of the Frogs” about?

Dawn of the Frogs is a Pathfinder 2e adventure product designed for 1st-level characters, with the content geared primarily towards individuals who have never played Pathfinder (or any RPG, for that matter). The boxed set contains three short adventures (each of which can be wrapped in a single session).

The story kicks off in the remote village of Bog Bottom, with reports of villagers disappearing into the mists and all clues pointing toward a ruined mill near the dreaded swamp of Dumire. What starts as a search for missing townsfolk soon unravels into a mystery crawling with amphibious threats and swamp-dwelling horrors.

The physical box set includes:

• Four pre-generated characters
• A 32-page adventure book
• Poster maps of key encounter locations
• Pawns for heroes and monsters
• A complete set of dice

How Much is Dawn of the Frogs?

The standard boxed edition of Pathfinder Game Night: Dawn of the Frogs retails for $34.99 USD (not including shipping and handling). This includes all the printed materials, maps, pawns and dice needed to run the adventure. A PDF version is also available which retails for $19.99 USD.

What is Pathfinder Game Night?

Pathfinder Game Night is a new initiative from Paizo which provide all-in-one boxed adventures that can be played in a single evening or over a few short sessions. The goal is for easy onboarding, offering everything a group needs to get started and featuring adventures that are structured to gradullay introduce the Pathfinder 2e rules. In many ways, it’s a similar approach to the new D&D “Heroes of the Borderlands” Starter Set, which is focused almost entirely on first-time TTRPG players.

The Game Night product line is a radical departure from Pathfinder’s more well known Adventure Paths, which are multi-part, epic campaigns that often span levels 1 through 20 and can take months or even years of playing to complete.

That being said, Paizo hasn’t entirely neglected experienced players with the new Game Night line, as Dawn of the Frogs does integrate with the Pathfinder Society and includes a free PDF with rules for how to bring it into organized play.

Final Thoughts

Paizo’s new Game Night line is an inspired idea in terms of introducing new players to Pathfinder 2e, while also featuring enough narrative meat and accessories to entice existing players. It remains to be seen, however, just whether or not Dawn of the Frogs becomes ribbiting success.

You can order the new box set now from your local game store or the Paizo website.